The Road to Solo Driving handbook is available for purchase in English, Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin) and Vietnamese. It is also available to view online in English, Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Turkish and Vietnamese.

Significant penalties apply if drivers on Victorian roads are caught with both illegal blood or breath alcohol concentration (BAC) levels and illicit drugs in their system. Visit Combined drink and drug-driving offences and penalties for more information.

There are no road rules about securing animals in a vehicle while driving. But, there may be laws in Victoria, such as those preventing cruelty to animals, which may need to be considered when driving with animals in your car.

Bicycles

Cyclists are required to obey the same road rules as drivers, plus some additional bicycle-specific rules. Like all road users, cyclists can be fined for failing to follow these rules.

Using a mobile phone is prohibited, except to make or receive a phone call or to use its audio/music functions provided the phone:

is secured in a commercially designed holder fixed to the bicycle, or

can be operated by the rider without touching any part of the phone, and the phone is not resting on any part of the riders’ body but can be in a pocket.

Using a phone as a navigational device/GPS while riding is prohibited unless it is secured in a commercially designed holder fixed to the bicycle. All other functions (including video calls, texting and emailing) are prohibited.

The penalty is a fine of $476. Demerit points do not apply to bike riders, but do apply to drivers of motorised vehicles.

the symbol of a JAS-ANZ(External link) accredited company (for helmets manufactured or imported after 1 July 2012)

You need to wear a helmet when you’re riding on:

roads

road-related areas

bike paths

bike lanes

shared and separated footpaths.

In special circumstances, you might be eligible for an exemption from wearing a bicycle helmet.

See ourWearing a bicycle helmet page for more information about helmets.

Child restraints

This section of the website covers the legal requirements for using child restraints and booster seats. It also gives advice on what child restraints and booster seats are appropriate for children from birth up until 7 years of age.

Choose the right child restraint

Children need different restraints as they grow. The restraint must be the right size for the child, properly adjusted and fastened, and correctly fitted to the vehicle.

It is the law for all children up to the age of 7 to be in a child restraint or booster seat when travelling in a vehicle.

Choosing the right child restraint for your child will depend on their age and size. See Child restraints, booster seats and seat belt readiness [PDF 3.9 Mb]

To keep your child safe, the restraint must also be properly adjusted, fastened, and fitted to the vehicle.

See the videos on how to use child restraints and booster seats(External link).

To help keep your child safe, you need to answer the following questions.

Any restraint that is for sale in an Australian retailer has been tested to meet theAustralian Standard AS/NZS 1754(External link) and it is therefore safe for use. The restraint will have the Australian Standards ‘5 tick’ sticker on it. If you purchase a restraint online or overseas, it will not have been tested to comply with the Australian Standard and may not be safe for use in Australian conditions. It is not legal to use a restraint in Australia that does not meet the Australian Standards.

A number of child restraints for sale in Australia have been further tested by the child restraint evaluation program (CREP) which helps you to know which child restraints are the safest and easiest to use compared to the others. The testing completed by CREP is to a higher standard than the current Australian standard, so stars are awarded for ease of use and safety. It is important to remember that even a restraint that achieves a 1 star rating for safety under the CREP, is exceeding the Australian Standard for safety, and is a very safe product.

Secondhand restraints

If you are thinking of buying or borrowing a secondhand child restraint make sure it is no more than 10 years old and has never been in a serious crash. It must be in good condition with the buckles working properly, and have no signs of wear on the straps, or cracks or stress marks on the plastic shell.

Some restraints may be difficult to fit in smaller vehicles, or vehicles with contouring seats. If possible, try the restraint in your vehicle before you buy it.

If a restraint is not fitted or adjusted correctly, a child is at a higher risk of serious injury or death in a crash.

The School of Drive

The school of drive has been in operation for ten years. We began teaching students in classrooms between years 10 and 12 the theory of driving in several schools across rural Victoria and Melbourne metro almost from the start.